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NlTED STATES ATEN'r rricn.

wILLIs ocean, or reasons IsLn, MAINE, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF TO enoncn M.LUOE, or sans PLACE.

POTATO-BIGGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 296,541, dated April 8,188%.

Application filed December 13, 1883. (No model.)

2'0 all whom. it may concern.-

BeitknownthatLWILLIsDoncE,ofPresque Isle, in the county of Aroostook andState of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPotato-Diggers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthe same, partlyin section. Fig. 3 is a sectional end elevation of thesame, taken through the line w .r, Fig. 2.

The object of this invention is to facilitate the operation of diggingpotatoes, and also to promote convenience in controlling and operatin gpotato-diggers.

The invention consists in the several combinations of parts and theirconstruction, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth, and pointedout in the claims.

A represents a beam similar to a plow-beam. To the rear part of the beamA are attached the forward ends of the handles B, the rear parts ofwhich are connected and held in their proper relative positions by around, B, attached to them.

To the opposite sides of the forward end of the beam A are attached theforward ends of two bars, 0, which are curved downward, outward,rearward, inward, and upward, and are secured at their rear ends to theopposite sides of the beam A, a little in front of its center.

- To the middle parts of the bars or hangers Gis attached the axle D ofthe drive-wheels E F.

Several holes are formed in the bars (J to receive the fastening-bolts,so that the beam A can be readily raised and lowered to cause the scoopG to work shallower or deeper in the ground, as may be required. Thescoop G is made semi-cylindrical in form, with an angular forward endand a square rear end. The middle parts of thesides of the scoop G areextended upward, and are bolted to the opposite sides of the beam A, alittle in the rear of its center.

Upon the forward part of the lower side of the scoop G is formed a shoe,H, to give steadiness of motion to the said scoop. The rear part of thebottom of the scoop G has slots I formed in it, to allow the loose soilto fall to the ground as the soil and potatoes pass back over the saidbottom.

To the sides of the scoop G is journaled a shaft, J, to which areattached radial arms K, which, as the said shaft is revolved, loosen thepotatoes and soil and feed them back through the scoop to prevent thesaid scoop from becoming clogged.

To one journal of the shaft J is attached a small chain-wheel, L, aroundwhich passes an endless chain, M. The chain M also passes around a largechain-wheel, N, attached to or formed upon the side of the drive-wheelF, so that the stirrer J K will be operated by the advance of themachine. As the soil and potatoes pass from the rear end of the scoop Gthey are received upon the screen 0, which is made semi-cylindrical inform, and to the forward and rear corners of which are hinged the .endsof two bails, P. The forward bail l? is hinged at its center to the beamA by a staple or eyebolt, Q, and the rear bail P is hinged at its centerto the beam Aby a long eyebolt, R, which has a nut, S, screwed upon itabove the said beam, so that by adjusting the said nut a greater or lessdownward inclination can be given to the rear end of the screen 0, asthe character of the soil may require.

To the center of the forward end of the screen 0 is hinged the rear endof a rod, T, the forward end of which is hinged to the middle part ofthe lower side of the bottom of the scoop G, so as to prevent the screen0 from swinging back from the rear end of the scoop G so far as to allowpotatoes to drop through between the said scoop and screen.

To the middle part of the beam A are attached two arms, U, which areslotted to receive the fasteningbolts, so that the said arms can bereadily adjusted higher or lower, as may be required. The upper parts ofthe arms U project outward, and in their outer ends are formed hearings,in which rocks the rod V, upon the rear end of which is formed, or to itis attached, a crank-arm, WV. The end of the crank-arm \V is hooked intoa lug, X, attached to the forward corner of the screen 0, so that thesaid screen will be agitated by the movements of the said crank toseparate the potatoes and soil, the soil passing through the intersticesof the-screen and the potatoes dropping from the rear end of the saidscreen upon the surface of the ground, so that they can be 1 5 readilygathered.

Upon the forward end of the shaft or rod V is formed, or to it isattached, a crank-arm, Y,

the end of which enters in a zigzag groove formed in the face of a wheelor flange, Z,

10 formed upon or attached to'the side of the drive-wheel E, so that thecrank-rod V will be rocked with a quick movement by the advance of themachine.

;Having thus described my invention, what I I 5 claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, isg 1. In apotato-digger, thecombinatiomwith the draft-beam, with its wheels, and the scoop,

of the shaker or screen pivotally suspended 20 from said beam, and theapproximately U- shaped crank-shaft, with its lower forward end providedwith a forward extension engaging a zigzag-grooved or cam disk on one ofthe aforesaid wheels, and with its lower rear end provided with arearward extension connected 25 to said screen or shaker, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a potato-digger, the combination of the draft-beam, theapproximately U-shaped crankshaft connected to the screen or sha'ker 0connected to the scoop, said shaft also connecting with a cam-disk, andthe right-angled arms supportingsaid shaft and adjustably connected tosaid beam, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

WILLIS DODGEI Witnesses:

CHAS. P. ALLEN, A. O. DODGE.

